Protecting Your Legacy
The executor or personal representative tasked with administration of an estate must manage a lot of responsibilities. And, ultimately, they could very easily make a mistake that could derail the Texas probate process and drastically reduce how much the beneficiaries...
An estate plan is as much about the peace of mind of the testator as it is about the financial protection of their closest family members. Estate plans outline who will receive property from an estate and also provide guidance for scenarios wherein an individual...
Trusts are very powerful tools for protecting oneself and establishing a meaningful legacy. Many modern estate plans make use of trusts. Although some people think of a trust as a tool for the incredibly wealthy, many middle-class and working-class households can also...
When a loved one dies, assuming they have a will, their chosen executor steps in to make sure that their estate is handled the way they intended. Once the decedent's real property and other assets are secured and the will has been located, it’s time to attend to the...
A will that the testator created or changed shortly before passing away can cause controversy and suspicion among family members. Especially when the will names a single heir who was the deceased's new "friend" or caregiver and disinherits their children,...
When someone dies, their assets often have to pass through probate court. Texas requires court oversight of estates that include thousands of dollars of property or real property worth any amount. Some individuals attempt to handle the probate process and estate...
When you get married, you agree to share your entire life with someone else. They benefit from your financial resources and from your income. Both of you may be responsible for one another's debts, and you may share ownership of your biggest assets. If your spouse...
Your estate plan can be as unique as you want it to be. Rather than just leaving umbrella instructions to divide your assets evenly among specific people, you can go into minute detail if you so desire. Addressing your most valuable property individually can be a...
As a child, you probably had total faith in your parents. When you were a young adult, they were your example for how to establish a career and manage a household. As wonderful as it is to get multiple decades of adulthood to share with your parents, it can be hard to...
Whether expected or the result of a tragic accident, the loss of a loved one is never easy. It is frustrating to think that some may find themselves dealing with additional stress when a will has unexpected results. What if you were unexpectedly left out of the will?...